One year on

Today marks the one year anniversary since the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch which killed 185 people and devastated the city.

As the days have ticked down to today, I have felt more and more emotionally vulnerable, as feelings I thought left behind in a broken city have resurfaced. There's a lot I would love to write about now but I just can't. The wound is 365 days old now, but still too fresh.

Today I will be thinking about those who lost members of their families, their homes, or their livelihoods, of those who still have no answers and can't move on. I will be thinking of friends and family who went through this event alongside me, who I miss always, but today even moreso. Thinking of those children who will be going through a school day just like they did this time last year, and remembering everything they went through.

I will be giving my family a big hug, taking guilty thanks in the fact we no longer have to be scared. I will think about the journey we have been on since 12.51 on 22 Feb, 2011, and the rollercoaster ride that was 2011.

I will be thinking about Christchurch, the memories of how she used to be.

I will remember.

Kia kaha, Otautahi.

Meet Isabelle

Isabelle is a new shawl patten from me which was released on Ravelry last week.












I started working on this design mid last year so it is pretty exciting to see her finally out there.















She is knit sideways so there are no super-long rows or hundreds of stitches to cast off. The edging is charted and written and is worked on as you knit.












Lots of eyelet detailing allows you to ribbon and lace to your heart's content. I love the slightly gothic/steampunk look to this shawl and so far she is my favourite design. I like that it is a little bit feminine and a little bit kick-ass :)












Isabelle's release coincides with a month of red and pink tones yarns at Tri'Coterie for the month of lovers (Happy Valentine's Day!). On offer is a gorgeous red semisolid called 'exsanguinate' which is a lovely deep dark red in silk/merino and merino/tencel specifically dyed with this shawl in mind. At the moment a special offer is running - if you purchase the pattern and the yarn, free ribbon to complete the project will be sent to you with the yarn. Here's a picture of exsanguinate - so pretty.































Isabelle is for sale for $4.50US.